Thermal management system and method for electronics system

ABSTRACT

A thermal energy management system is provided having a heat spreading device that is operatively engaged with at least one semiconductor chip and a thermal bus operatively engaged with the heat spreading device so as to transport thermal energy from the heat spreading device to a heat sink. The heat spreading device includes a heat pipe and the thermal bus includes a loop thermosyphon. A second thermal bus may be operatively engaged with the first thermal bus so as to transport thermal energy from the first thermal bus to a heat sink. The second thermal bus may also include a loop thermosyphon. A method of managing thermal energy in an electronic system is also provided that includes spreading thermal energy generated by one or more devices over a surface that is relatively larger than the devices, thermally coupling an evaporator portion of a loop thermosyphon to the surface, and thermally coupling a condensing portion of the loop thermosyphon to a thermal energy sink, e.g., a second loop thermosyphon, convection fin, or cold plate.

[0001] This application claims priority from copending ProvisionalPatent Application Serial No. 60/301,224, filed Jun. 27, 2001, andentitled Loop Thermosyphons And Their Applications To High Density.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention generally relates to the management ofthermal energy generated by electronic systems, and more particularly toa packaging scheme for efficiently and cost effectively routing andcontrolling the thermal energy generated by various components of anelectronic system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The electronics industry, following Moore's Law, has seemed to beable to defy the laws of economics by providing ever increasingcomputing power at less cost. However, the industry has not been able tosuspend the laws of physics inasmuch as high computing performance hasbeen accompanied by increased heat generation. Board level heatdissipation has advanced to a point that several years ago was only seenat the system level. The trend toward ever increasing heat dissipationin microprocessor and amplifier based systems, such as are housed intelecommunication and server port cabinets, is becoming increasinglycritical to the electronics industry. In the foreseeable future, findingeffective thermal solutions will become a major constraint for thereduction of system cost and time-to-market, two governing factorsbetween success and failure in commercial electronics sales.

[0004] The problems caused by the increasing heat dissipation arefurther compounded by the industry trend toward systemminiaturization—one of the main methodologies of the electronicsindustry to satisfy the increasing market demand for faster, smaller,lighter and cheaper electronic devices. The result of thisminiaturization is increasing heat fluxes. For example, metal oxidesemiconductor-controlled thyristors may generate heat fluxes from 100 to200W/cm², some high voltage power electronics for military applicationsmay generate heat fluxes of 300W/cm², while some laser diodeapplications require removal of 500W/cm². Also, non-uniform heat fluxdistribution in electronics may result in peak heat fluxes in excess offive times the average heat flux over the entire semiconductor chipsurface (˜30W/cm²).

[0005] Thus, as clock speeds for integrated circuits increase, packagetemperatures will be required to correspondingly decrease to achievelower junction temperatures. However, increasing package temperatureswill result from the increase in heat dissipation in the package fromhigher clock speed devices. This increase in temperature will cascadethroughout the interior of the structure that encloses or houses suchcircuits, (e.g. a typical telecommunications or server port cabinets, orthe like) as the number of high power semiconductor componentspositioned within the housing increases. The difference between thesephysical aspects (i.e., the difference between the interior cabinettemperature and the package temperature) of the electronic systemdefines a “thermal budget” that is available for the design of thecooling devices/systems needed to manage the heat fluxes generated bythe various electronic devices in the system. As these two conflictingparameters converge, the available thermal budget shrinks. When thethermal budget approaches zero, refrigeration systems become necessaryto provide the requisite cooling of the electronic system.

[0006] It is well known to those skilled in the art that thermalresistances (often referred to as “delta-T”) for typical thermal systemsat the semiconductor junction-to-package, package-to-sink andsink-to-air levels have been trending up over the past decade. The lackof understanding of micro-scale heat transfer physics, the requirementof matching the coefficients of thermal expansion (C.T.E.'S) of asemiconductor chip and the thermal energy spreading materials, and thepotential adverse effect on conventional packaging practices ofintegrating heat transfer mechanisms into packages, have largely limitedthe choice of cooling/spreading techniques at the semiconductor chip andsemiconductor package levels to heat conduction.

[0007] Extensive efforts in the areas of heat sink optimization(including the use of heat pipes) and interface materials development inthe past have resulted in the significant reduction of sink-to-air andpackage-to-sink thermal resistances. However, the reduction of these twothermal resistances has now begun to approach the physical andthermodynamic limitations of the materials. On the other hand, thejunction-to-package thermal resistance (delta-T) has increased recently,due to the increasing magnitude and non-uniformity (localization) of theheat generation and dissipation from the semiconductor package.

[0008] Successful cooling technologies must deal with thermal issues atthe device, device cluster, printed wiring board, subassembly, andcabinet or rack levels, all of which are within the original equipmentmanufacturer's (OEM's) products. Many times, the problem is furthercomplicated by the fact that the thermal solution is an “after thought”for the OEM. A new equipment design may utilize the latest software orimplement the fastest new semiconductor technology, but the thermalmanagement architecture is generally relegated to the “later phases” ofthe new product design. The thermal management issues associated with adesigned electronic system are often solved by the expedient of asecondary cooling or refrigeration system that is arranged in tandemwith the electronics system.

[0009] There are several negatives associated with the use of tandemcooling or refrigeration systems. The additional electrical powerrequired by such systems not only increases the cost to operate theelectronic equipment, but also causes an adverse environmental impact inthe form of pollution (from power generation processes) and noise.Reliability issues are also of considerable concern with refrigerationsystems. In addition, such add-on thermal management solutions can makeafter market servicing very difficult and expensive. There is a need fora thermal management system that can be easily disassembled from theunderlying electronic system, in the field, to facilitate servicing ofthe components.

[0010] There is a compound challenge in the art to provide a thermalmanagement architecture that satisfactorily accumulates and transfersvariable amounts of thermal energy, generated by a wide variety ofelectronic components arranged together in an enclosed space, whileavoiding or minimizing the use of non-passive, tandem cooling orrefrigeration systems for cooling. As a consequence, there is also aneed in the art for a cost effective, integral thermal managementarchitecture for high power electronic systems and that is easilyremoved during servicing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention provides a thermal energy management systemcomprising a heat spreading device that is operatively engaged with atleast one semiconductor chip. A thermal bus is operatively engaged withthe heat spreading device so as to transport thermal energy from theheat spreading device to a heat sink. In one preferred embodiment, theheat spreading device comprises a heat pipe and a thermal bus isprovided that comprises a loop thermosyphon. In another embodiment ofthe invention, a second thermal bus is operatively engaged with thefirst thermal bus so as to transport thermal energy from the firstthermal bus to a heat sink. The second thermal bus may also comprise aloop thermosyphon.

[0012] A method of managing thermal energy in an electronic system isprovided that includes spreading thermal energy generated by one or moredevices over a surface that is relatively larger than the devices,thermally coupling an evaporator portion of a loop thermosyphon to thesurface, and thermally coupling a condensing portion of the loopthermosyphon to a thermal energy sink, e.g., a second loop thermosyphon,convection fin, or cold plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] These and other features and advantages of the present inventionwill be more fully disclosed in, or rendered obvious by, the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, whichis to be considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein likenumbers refer to like parts and further wherein:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially in phantom, of a typicalelectronics system including a thermal management system formed inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a typical electronics subsystemincorporating the thermal management system of the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective, broken-away view of a portion of theelectronics subsystem shown in FIG. 2;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, as taken along line 4-4 in FIG.3, of a thermal bus, evaporator plate, heat pipe, and heat generatingelectronic component; and

[0018]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, as taken along line 5-5 in FIG.2, of a thermal bus to thermal bus interface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] This description of preferred embodiments is intended to be readin connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be consideredpart of the entire written description of this invention. The drawingfigures are not necessarily to scale and certain features of theinvention may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematicform in the interest of clarity and conciseness. In the description,relative terms such as “horizontal,” “vertical,” “up,” “down,” “top” and“bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,”“downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to theorientation as then described or as shown in the drawing figure underdiscussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description andnormally are not intended to require a particular orientation. Termsincluding “inwardly” versus “outwardly,” “longitudinal” versus “lateral”and the like are to be interpreted relative to one another or relativeto an axis of elongation, or an axis or center of rotation, asappropriate. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, suchas “connected” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship whereinstructures are secured or attached to one another either directly orindirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable orrigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly describedotherwise. The term “operatively connected” is such an attachment,coupling or connection that allows the pertinent structures to operateas intended by virtue of that relationship. In the claims,means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structuresdescribed, suggested, or rendered obvious by the written description ordrawings for performing the recited function, including not onlystructural equivalents but also equivalent structures.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention provides a thermalenergy management system 5 that may be implemented in a functioningsystem of electronic components and/or subsystems e.g., a 1-U server 8.Thermal energy management system 5 generally comprises a hierarchicalscheme of thermal management components that are operatively engagedwith individual heat generating components or groups of such componentsthat form server 8. Advantageously, the thermal management componentsare substantially only thermally driven, i.e., passive heat transferdevices that have no moving parts and require no external power fortheir operation.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 2-4, thermal energy management system 5comprises a planar heat pipe 12 arranged in thermal communication with athermal bus 14 for transporting thermal energy away from individual heatgenerating devices 15,16 as well as, clusters of such devices within theelectronic system. More particularly, planar heat pipe 12 is sized andshaped so as to spread the thermal energy generated by at least onesemiconductor device 15,16 that is arranged in intimate thermalengagement with planar heat pipe 12 within server 8. Often, one or moresemiconductor devices 15,16 e.g., microprocessors, voltage regulators,power supplies, etc., are mounted within the same region of theelectronics system.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 4, planar heat pipe 12 comprises a vaporchamber 25 that is defined between a top wall 28 and a bottom wall 31,and extends transversely and longitudinally throughout planar heat pipe12. In a preferred embodiment, top wall 28 and bottom wall 31 comprisesubstantially uniform thickness sheets of a thermally conductivematerial, and are spaced-apart by about 2.0 (mm) to about 4.0 (mm) so asto form the void space within heat pipe 12 that defines vapor chamber25. Top wall 28 preferably comprises a substantially planer innersurface 36. Bottom wall 31 of planar heat pipe 12 is also substantiallyplanar, and comprises an integrally formed layer of wicking material, orwick 39. In one embodiment, sintered copper powder or felt metal wickstructure, having an average thickness of about 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm ispositioned over substantially all of the inner surface of bottom wall 31so as to form wick 39. Of course, other wick materials, such as,aluminum-silicon-carbide or copper-silicon-carbide may be used withequal effect.

[0023] Vapor chamber 25 is created by the attachment of top wall 28 andbottom wall 31, along their common edges which are then hermeticallysealed at their joining interface 41. A two-phase vaporizable liquid(e.g., ammonia or freon not shown) resides within vapor chamber 25, andserves as the working fluid for planar heat pipe 12. Heat pipe 12 isformed by drawing a partial vacuum within vapor chamber 25 and injectingthe working fluid just prior to final hermetic sealing of the commonedges of top wall 28 and bottom wall 31. For example, planar heat pipe12 (including top wall 28 and bottom wall 31) may be made of copper orcopper-silicon-carbide with water, ammonia, or freon generally chosen asthe two-phase vaporizable liquid.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1-5, thermal bus 14 comprises aloop-thermosyphon 42 that is thermally engaged with planar heat pipe 12so as to bus thermal energy from planar heat pipe 12 to a thermal energysink or heat sink 43, e.g., a cold plate or convection cooled fin stack.In the context of the present invention, terms such as “bus, buses, orbusing” mean to transport or otherwise transfer thermal energy in adirected manner from one location to another location, e.g., from a highheat flux portion to a lower heat flux portion of a rack/chassisassembly 46 that structurally supports a plurality of servers 8.

[0025] Loop thermosyphon 42 comprises a closed tube 50 that is formedfrom a substantially uniform thickness, thermally conductive material(e.g., copper, aluminum, or the like) having a continuous internalpassageway 53. At least an evaporator portion 55 of tube 50 includes anintegrally formed wicking layer 58 of sintered copper powder or metalfelt, having an average thickness of about 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm. Wickinglayer 58 is continuously disposed over substantially all of the innersurface of tube 50 at evaporator portion 55. A condensing portion 60 oftube 50 is positioned in spaced away relation to evaporator portion 55,and often arranged in intimate thermal contact with a wall 63 of asupport chassis 64 of server 8. Loop thermosyphon 42 is maintained inposition within server 8 by means of simple fasteners, e.g., screws andbrackets, so that it may be disassembled from the underlying electronicsystem and components so that they may be serviced without need for timeconsuming and error prone reassembly of the system.

[0026] A two-phase vaporizable liquid (e.g., ammonia, water, freon orthe like, not shown) resides within passageway 53 of loop thermosyphon42, and serves as the working fluid. Loop thermosyphon 42 may be formedby drawing a partial vacuum within tube 50 and injecting the workingfluid just prior to final hermetic sealing of the tube. Condensingportion 60 of tube 50 may or may not include an integrally formedwicking layer 58. The evaporator portions 65 of one or more additionalloop-thermosyphons 66 may be located on the outer surface 67 of wall 63so as to (i) receive thermal energy from condensing portion 60 ofloop-thermosyphon 42, via thermal conduction through wall 63, and (ii)bus that thermal energy to other lower heat flux regions of arack/chassis assembly 46. Loop thermosyphon 66 is also maintained inposition within on chassis 46 by means of simple fasteners, e.g., screwsand brackets, so that it may be quickly disassembled from the underlyingelectronic system and chassis for servicing.

[0027] Evaporator plates 70 provide a physical and thermal interfacebetween top wall 28 of planar heat pipe 12 and evaporator portion 55 ofloop-thermosyphon 42, and between wall 63 and evaporator portion 65 ofloop-thermosyphon 66. More particularly, evaporator plate 70 is formedfrom a substantially uniform thickness sheet of a thermally conductivematerial, and is preferably substantially planar. It is sized and shapedto cover a portion of top wall 28 of planar heat pipe 12, or the portionof wall 63 adjacent to evaporator portions 65 of loop-thermosyphon 66.The outer surface of bottom wall 31 may be either permanently bonded toheat generating devices 15,16, or a thermal grease or other heattransfer material may be disposed at the thermal interface 72 betweenevaporator 70 and heat generating devices 15,16. At least two grooves 73are formed in a top surface 76 of evaporator plate 70 so as to receiveand cradle evaporator portion 55 of loop-thermosyphon 42, or evaporatorportion 65 of loop-thermosyphon 66. A thermal grease or other heattransfer material may be diposed at the thermal busing interface 79between evaporator portion 65 of loop-thermosyphon 66 and condensingportion 60 of loop thermosyphon 42, and wall 63. A mechanical lockingmechanism 80 may also be employed to help force evaporator plate 70 intointimate thermal engagement and communication with wall 63 so as toenhance heat transfer across this thermo-mechanical interface.

[0028] In one example, thermal management system and method 5 of thepresent invention was used for cooling four McKinley processors in a 1-Urack mount system. Four McKinley processors 15 and four associated powersupplies 16 in a 1-U rack mount system with forty-two systems per rack.Each processor generates one hundred and thirty watts of thermal energy,each power supply generates forty-five watts, each central processingunit generates one hundred and seventy-five watts, so that each serveryields about seven hundred watts of thermal energy, with a total poweroutput for the rack equal to about twenty-nine thousand four hundredwatts. The allowable thermal resistance is based upon a T_(c) max equalto about eighty-five degrees centigrade. Assuming an allowable ambienttemperature of thirty-five degrees centigrade, the rate of powergeneration from the overall system, that is allowable to remain withinspecifications, is about 0.38 watts per degree centigrade.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the thermal busing path from server 8to heat sink 43 starts at first thermal interface 74 between the case orpackage containing the first McKinley processor 15 and bottom wall 31 ofheat pipe 12 (FIG. 4). In this embodiment of the invention, heat pipe 12extends across both the McKinley processor 15 and its associated powersupply pod 16 so as to spread thermal energy over an area larger thanthe area of at least one of these heat generating components, i.e., heatpipe heat spreader 12 preferably comprises a larger area than processor15 and its associated power supply pod 16. Heat is transferred acrossfirst thermal interface 74 to bottom wall 31, through vapor chamber 25,to top wall 28. Heat pipe 12 is often permanently attached to at leastprocessor 15 by e.g., solder or brazing, such that first thermalinterface 74 permanently attaches processor 15 to the outer surface ofbottom wall 31. A second thermal interface 72 is provided between thebottom surface of evaporator 70 and the outer surface of top wall 28. Athermal grease or other heat transfer material may be disposed atthermal interface 72. This arrangement of heat pipes 12 and evaporatorplates 70 is duplicated across all four McKinley processors 15 andassociated power supplies 16 in the 1-U rack mount system.

[0030] Evaporator portion 55 of flexible loop thermosyphon 42 is thenassembled to each evaporator plate 70 via placing tube 50 into grooves73 on top surfaces 76. Flexible loop thermosyphon 42 is maintained inplace on evaporators 70 by means of simple fasteners that are easilyremoved for servicing. The heat transferred from heat pipes 12 actuallycreates a series of multiple evaporator portions 55 along the length offlexible loop thermosyphon 42. This interface between heat pipe 12 andflexible loop thermosyphon 42 is thus a detachable thermal joint so asto allow for the replacement of processor 15 and power supply module 16.Flexible loop thermosyphon 42 transfers all the heat generated by thefour McKinley processors 15 and four associated power supplies 16 toside wall 63 of the 1-U server 8 which provides lower thermal fluxregion for condenser portion 60 of flexible loop thermosyphon 42 (FIG.5).

[0031] Since server chassis' 64 need to be removable, a third thermalinterface 79 is provided between wall 63 and an evaporator plate 70 thatis cradling evaporator portion 65 of loop thermosyphon 66 (FIG. 5). Thisinterface is often enhanced by use of a cam-type mechanical lockingmechanism 80 that aids in forcing evaporator plate 70 into intimatethermal engagement and communication with wall 63 so as to enhance heattransfer across this thermo-mechanical interface.

[0032] In this way, loop thermosyphon 66 transfers the heat to the topof rack 46 where it can be dissipated to a large air-cooled heat sink43, or coupled to a re-circulated water or refrigeration cooled heatsink. For clarity of illustration, the details of the condenserintegration are not shown in the various figures, however, a simpletube-in-fin type heat exchanger could easily be integrated.

[0033] In this example, the use of thermal management system and method5 yielded an overall system temperature rise is 21.6 degrees C., whichcorresponds to a thermal resistance of 0.166 degrees C./watt based onthe 130 watts processor power. Assuming a 50 degrees C. allowable caseto ambient temperature rise leaves 28.4 degrees C. available todissipate the transferred heat from the condenser of loop thermosyphon66 to the ambient air.

[0034] Advantages of the Invention

[0035] Numerous advantages are obtained by employing the presentinvention.

[0036] More specifically, a thermal energy management system comprisinga hierarchical scheme of thermal management components that areoperatively engaged with individual components or groups of componentsthat form an electronic system is provided which avoids all of theaforementioned problems associated with prior art systems for managingthermal energy generated by electronic systems.

[0037] In addition, a thermal energy management system is provided thatincorporates discrete heat spreading technologies at the semiconductordevice and semiconductor device package that enables the packagetemperature to increase without overheating at the junction level whileincorporating a thermal bus for transporting or otherwise transferringthermal energy in a directed manner from one location to anotherlocation, e.g., from the high heat flux portion of a semiconductor to alower heat flux portion of an external heat sink.

[0038] Also, a thermal energy management system is provided that iseasily disassembled from the underlying electronic system and componentsso that they may be serviced without need for time consuming and errorprone reassembly.

[0039] It is to be understood that the present invention is by no meanslimited only to the particular constructions herein disclosed and shownin the drawings, but also comprises any modifications or equivalentswithin the scope of the claims

What is claimed is:
 1. A thermal energy management system comprising: aheat spreading device that is operatively engaged with at least one heatgenerating component; and a thermal bus that is operatively engaged withsaid heat spreading device so as to transport thermal energy from saidheat spreading device to a heat sink.
 2. A thermal energy managementsystem according to claim 1 wherein said heat spreading device comprisesa heat pipe and said thermal bus comprises a loop thermosyphon.
 3. Athermal energy management system according to claim 1 including a secondthermal bus that is operatively engaged with said first thermal bus soas to transport thermal energy from said first thermal bus to a heatsink.
 4. A thermal energy management system according to claim 3 whereinsaid second thermal bus comprises a loop thermosyphon.
 5. A thermalenergy management system according to claim 1 wherein said heatspreading device comprises a planar heat pipe arranged in thermalcommunication with said thermal bus so as to transport thermal energyaway from said at least one heat generating component wherein saidplanar heat pipe is sized and shaped so as to spread thermal energy overan area larger than the area of said at least one heat generatingcomponent.
 6. A thermal energy management system according to claim 1wherein said heat spreading device comprises a planar heat pipeincluding a vapor chamber that is defined between a top wall formed froma substantially uniform thickness sheet of a thermally conductivematerial and a bottom wall comprises a substantially uniform thicknesssheet of a thermally conductive material.
 7. A thermal energy managementsystem according to claim 6 wherein said top wall and said bottom wallare spaced-apart by about 2.0 (mm) to about 4.0 (mm) so as to form avoid space within said heat pipe that defines a vapor chamber, andfurther wherein said top wall comprises a substantially planer innersurface and said bottom wall comprises a substantially planar surfacehaving an integrally formed wick.
 8. A thermal energy management systemaccording to claim 7 wherein said wick comprises is formed from amaterial selected from the group consisting of sintered copper powder,aluminum-silicon-carbide, or copper-silicon-carbide, and metal felthaving an average thickness of about 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm and that ispositioned over substantially all of said inner surface of said bottomwall.
 9. A thermal energy management system according to claim 1 whereinsaid thermal bus comprises at least one loop-thermosyphon that isthermally engaged with said heat spreading device so as to bus thermalenergy to a thermal energy sink.
 10. A thermal energy management systemaccording to claim 1 wherein said thermal bus comprises a loopthermosyphon formed from a closed tube having a continuous internalpassageway and at least an evaporator portion including an integrallyformed wicking layer disposed on the surface of said tube that definessaid internal passageway adjacent to said evaporator portion.
 11. Athermal energy management system according to claim 10 wherein saidwicking layer comprises sintered copper powder having an averagethickness of about 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.
 12. A thermal energy managementsystem according to claim 9 wherein said loop thermosyphon comprises acondensing portion positioned in spaced away relation to an evaporatorportion.
 13. A thermal energy management system according to claim 1wherein a portion of said thermal bus is arranged in intimate thermalcontact with a wall of a support chassis.
 14. A thermal energymanagement system according to claim 13 wherein said thermal bus ismaintained in position by a simple fastening system so that it may bedisassembled from an underlying electronic system and components.
 15. Athermal energy management system according to claim 13 furthercomprising a second thermal bus positioned adjacent to a condensingportion of said thermal bus.
 16. A thermal energy management systemaccording to claim 15 wherein said second thermal bus comprises anevaporator portion located on an outer surface of a wall of a chassisthat supports said at least one heat generating component so as to (i)receive thermal energy from a condensing portion of said thermal bus,and (ii) bus said thermal energy to a lower heat flux region of saidchassis.
 17. A thermal energy management system comprising: a heat pipeheat spreader that is thermally engaged with at least one heatgenerating component; and an evaporator plate positioned between aportion of said heat pipe heat spreader and an evaporation portion of aloop thermosyphon so as to transport thermal energy from said heat pipeheat spreader to a heat sink.
 18. A thermal energy management systemaccording to claim 17 wherein said evaporator plate provides a physicaland thermal interface between a top wall of said heat pipe heat spreaderand said evaporator portion of said loop-thermosyphon.
 19. A thermalenergy management system according to claim 17 wherein said evaporatorplate is formed from a substantially uniform thickness sheet of athermally conductive material that is sized and shaped to cover aportion of said top wall.
 20. A thermal energy management systemaccording to claim 19 wherein said at least one groove is formed in atop surface of said evaporator plate so as to receive and cradle saidevaporator portion of said loop-thermosyphon.
 21. A thermal energymanagement system comprising: a heat pipe heat spreader that isoperatively engaged with at least one heat generating component; anevaporator plate positioned between a portion of said heat pipe heatspreader and an evaporation portion of a first loop thermosyphon so asto transport thermal energy from said heat pipe heat spreader to a heatsink; and a second evaporator plate positioned between a condensingportion of said first loop thermosyphon and an evaporator portion of asecond loop thermosyphon.
 22. A thermal energy management systemaccording to claim 21 wherein a wall of a chassis that supports said atleast one heat generating component is located between said secondevaporator plate and said condensing portion of said first loopthermosyphon.
 23. A thermal energy management system according to claim22 further comprising a locking mechanism for forcing said secondevaporator plate into intimate thermal engagement and communication withsaid wall
 63. 24. A method of managing thermal energy in an electronicsystem comprising: spreading thermal energy generated by one or moredevices over a surface that is relatively larger than said devices;thermally coupling an evaporator portion of a loop thermosyphon to saidsurface; and thermally coupling a condensing portion of said loopthermosyphon to a thermal energy sink.
 25. A method of managing thermalenergy in an electronic system comprising: spreading thermal energygenerated by one or more devices over a surface that is relativelylarger than said devices; thermally coupling an evaporator portion of aloop thermosyphon to said surface; and thermally coupling a condensingportion of said loop thermosyphon to an evaporator portion of a secondloop thermosyphon.